New Updates in Google Forms October 2019

Hi All! 

About 10 days ago, I opened a new Google Form for a registration form that I was setting up for the parents of the students I teach, and I got a nice surprise!


What was it? Google Forms with a NEW LOOK!                                 

This update is in keeping with the changes that Google has been making to the visual layout and design of all its GSuite products. 

This is a gradual roll out. So my GSuite for Education account is reflecting this change, but not in my personal account yet. But it will happen soon!


Let us take a quick look! 

                                                          

Old Forms: 

Broad Banner. Could be set to have an image preset within the application or personalised image could be uploaded. Themes could be set as well. Basic variety of fonts available.



New Forms: 

Look has changes radically. Though we can still select a banner image, themes and fonts as earlier.




                                                                  

Old Forms: Respondent View







New Forms: 

Banner image is separated from the main body of the Form. Each element now, banner, title and description and each question now is housed in its own rectangle (if that makes any sense).





                                                          



Old Forms: Responses Tab

New Forms: Layout has changed!




The changes as you can see are largely cosmetic. The Layout now is cleaner and in line with the changes that we have seen in most other GSuite products in recent months.

                                                  

As of now I am happy with these visual changes. But here is my wishlist from Google Forms:

1. There should be autosave when I am filling the form, so that if I am interrupted, I can come back to it a a later time and complete the rest of it, without having to start all over again.
2. Get an option for assigning a time limit on each question.
3. Have a way of setting up play-offs to make things exciting in class.
4. Have Version History, so I can check the changes or restore an earlier version. This is especially important when you have collaborators working with you on the same Form.   

I know Quizziz and Kahoot fulfil numbers 2 and 3, but I would like to see them in Google Forms too!

Have you seen the New Look Google Forms in your GSuite account yet? What are your thoughts?

Do let me know in the comments!

Until next time.....

Teach SMART!
   
             Sanchita Ghosh

Design a Digital Rangoli Template with Google Sheets

Hi All!

Diwali is round the corner and we all know that crackers have always been the most controversial part of the festivals, not only for the pollution it causes, but also the bad rap due to the involvement of child labour. The noise they create, causing distress to infants, senior citizens, heart patients and those with respiratory problems. They also harm birds and animals around us. 

So we talk about cleaner ways to celebrate this festival. One of the methods suggested is making rangolis. Different parts of India has a tradition of rangoli making, dry rice powder, rice powder paste, with flower petals etc. 

 
 


But did you know you could make digital rangolis too? Even create a template for your students to create their own digital designs. 

You can make a copy of my template by clicking HERE. 

But it is better to learn. So let's get started.

Step 1: Open a new Google Sheet

Step 2: Add more Columns

Step 3: Resize the Columns to get Square Grids



Step 4: Make Column A Wider for the Colour Key





Step 5: Conditional Formatting


You will need to 2 things:
a. The cell colour
b. Text colour.

Both need to do both so that when numbers are typed in the cell, it remains invisible.





Tip: Repeat till you have all your desired colours. Keep it simple, stick to single digits only.



Step 6: Set up the Colour Key





Step 7: Test it Out

Step 8: Share with your Students

a. You can use Google Classroom to assign it to your students, set it so that each student gets a copy. 
b. Alternately, you can force a copy (replace 'edit' with 'copy' in the url). 
c. You can even duplicate the tab so that each student has a tab to work on. 

Happy Diwali!!